Council refuses to hear politicos

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation delegates voted Monday not to listen to three-minute oral presentations from two congressional candidates during the first day of the summer session.

Democratic candidates for Congressional District 1 TV personality Mary Kim Titla and attorney Howard Shanker attended the opening day, hoping to introduce themselves to the council.

In addition to being a member of The Shanker Law Firm, Shanker is an adjunct professor at the Arizona State University College of Law, where he teaches courses in environmental litigation and environmental justice.

Shanker also recently completed a three-year term on the U.S. EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Enforcement Subcommittee.

Titla was hired as a newsroom receptionist at televisioin station KTVK in Phoenix. She had planned on becoming a print journalist, but, there were no job openings in print in the Phoenix area.

Within two years, Titla worked her way up the trenches to become a production assistant and, in 1987, she became the first Native American TV reporter in Arizona, with television station KVOA in Tucson. Titla worked at KVOA for 6 years, until television station KPNX hired her away in 1993. She worked there until resigning in late 2005 to publish Native Youth Magazine, which she founded.

Across the country, tribal nations often complain that they are ignored by politicians this time, the tables were turned as the Navajo delegates decided to ignore the candidates.

"We have Renzi," one delegate muttered, referring to incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi.

But with possible ethical lapses hovering in the shadows, there is a chance that Renzi could be forced from office. Limitations were already put in place regarding Renzi's committee assignments.

Delegate Ervin M. Keeswood Sr. attempted to amend the session's agenda to allow Shanker and Titla a chance to speak, but by a 30-40 vote delegates thumbed their noses at the candidates.

Shortly thereafter, Delegate Willie Begay motioned to put Shanker on the agenda, saying it would be to discuss the San Francisco Peaks suit. Shanker represented the Nation in a victorious suit.

That move was a "blatantly political" attempt for one delegate to get the candidate he prefers on the agenda, while leaving Titla off, Keeswood charged.

In fairness, either both candidates or neither should be put on the agenda, Keeswood said.

"This has nothing to do with politics," Begay defended. "It's to update us about the San Francisco Peaks."

Council rejected Begay's amendment by a 28-47 count.